System and method of initiating in-trip audits in a self-checkout system

ABSTRACT

The system and method described herein may be used to make a binary determination of whether to initiate an in-trip audit of self-scans in a self-checkout system. For example, the system may receive one or more audit parameters that are used to calculate an audit score. The audit score may be compared to a predefined audit threshold to determine, during a shopping trip, whether to initiate the in-trip audit. After or in combination with making the binary determination, the system may make a probabilistic determination of whether to initiate an audit based on historical audit points associated with the shopper. The audit points are incremented or decremented based on prior audits and other characteristics of the shopper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/460,489entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INITIATING IN-TRIP AUDITS IN ASELF-CHECKOUT SYSTEM,” filed on Jul. 2, 2019, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/896,862, filed on May 17, 2013, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,387,817, issued on Aug. 20, 2019, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/648,315,filed on May 17, 2012; the disclosures of all of these applications andpatent are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to initiating audits in a checkoutsystem and in particular to making binary determinations of whether toinitiate an in-trip audit in a self-checkout system based on auditparameters received during a shopping trip and also combining binarydeterminations with probabilistic determinations of whether initiate anaudit.

BACKGROUND

Some self-checkout systems allow a shopper (used interchangeably hereinwith “customer”) to scan items using a self-scan device, which isgenerally portable and may be carried in a retail store during ashopping trip. Such systems can benefit the shopper by potentiallyminimizing wait times by avoiding conventional checkout lines and alsocan benefit the retailer by reducing labor costs due to checkoutautomation. An example of such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,243,447, filed Jan. 29, 1999, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

However, these conventional self-checkout systems are prone to bothintentional and unintentional scan errors by the shopper. For example,the shopper may intentionally scan a less expensive item and actuallyplace a more expensive item in a shopping basket or cart. Unintentionalerrors, such as a forgetting to scan or not properly scanning an item,may also occur. Whether unintentional or intentional, these scan errorscan lead to lost profits and detract from the advantages offered byself-checkout systems.

Thus, what is needed is an ability to audit self-scans in order tocorrect errant scans, whether intentional or unintentional. What isfurther needed is an ability to perform such audits on an in-trip basisthat makes binary determinations of whether to audit. What is furtherneeded is an ability to combine in-trip binary determinations withlonger-term probabilistic determinations of whether to audit. These andother drawbacks exist.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention addressing these and other drawbacks in conventionalsystems relates generally to a system and method for providingdeterminations of whether to initiate an in-trip audit in self-checkoutsystems. In some implementations of the invention, the system mayreceive one or more audit parameters during a shopping trip. In someimplementations, the one or more audit parameters may includeinformation that indicates the duration of the shopping trip. Forexample, the information may include a start time when a self-scandevice was initialized and an end time when checkout occurs and/or maysimply include a value associated with a timer that is run during theshopping trip. In some implementations, the one or more audit parametersmay include a number and/or a total value of a plurality of scans thatoccurred during the shopping trip. In some implementations, the one ormore audit parameters may include a length of time between two scans. Insome implementations, the one or more audit parameters may include anumber of voids during the shopping trip.

In some implementations of the invention, the system may calculate anaudit score based on the one or more audit parameters. In someimplementations, the system may calculate the audit score by determiningthe duration of the shopping trip based on the start and end times orobtaining another duration indicator. In some implementations, thesystem may calculate the audit score by determining a basketsize-to-duration ratio based on a number of scanned items and/or valueof the scanned items and the duration of the shopping trip.

In some implementations of the invention, the system may compare theaudit score to a predefined audit threshold. In some implementations,the predefined audit threshold may be set by the retailer to indicatewhen an in-trip audit should be triggered. For example, the predefinedaudit threshold may include a minimum basket size-to-duration ratiobelow which an in-trip audit is triggered. In some implementations,various audit parameters may be combined with one another. In theforegoing example, the basket size may be combined with duration of theshopping trip such that the audit score is based on a ratio between thebasket size and the duration. For instance, a shopper who scanned fiveitems having a total value of two dollars during a two hour shoppingtrip may fall have an audit score (ratio of basket size to duration)that falls below a minimum threshold for that audit parameter.

In some implementations of the invention, the system may determinewhether the audit score exceeds (where the threshold is a maximum) or isbelow (where the threshold is a minimum) the predefined audit threshold.

In some implementations of the invention, if the audit score exceeds oris below the predefined audit threshold, the system may determine thatthe in-trip audit should occur.

In some implementations of the invention, if the audit score does notexceed or is not below the predefined audit threshold, the system maydetermine that the in-trip audit should not occur.

In some implementations, after or in combination with the binarydetermination, the system may further determine a probability that theshopper should be audited. In these implementations, the system maydetermine a number of audit points associated with the shopper. Thetotal number of audit points may be incremented or decremented based onthe shopper. In some implementations, a greater number of audit pointsmay be associated with a reduced probability of being audited (althoughthe opposite could be true). For example, the system may decrement thenumber of audit points for a shopper who has not been audited such thata shopper who has not been audited has an increased probability of beingaudited in the future. The total number of points may also beincremented or decremented based on prior audit results. For example,having few or no errors in a prior audit may result in an award of auditpoints while having many errors may result in a deduction of auditpoints. The total number of points may be decremented each shopping tripto insure all shoppers are audited at least periodically.

Various other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent through the detailed description of the invention and thedrawings attached hereto. It is also to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and not restrictive of the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for initiating an in-tripaudit, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a process for initiating an in-tripaudit, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface forassigning audit points, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface forcustomizing settings, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface forcustomizing settings based on hours of operation, in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 for initiating anin-trip audit, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention. An “in-trip audit” includes an audit that is initiated duringa shopping trip. A shopping trip may begin when a shopper starts aself-scanning session such as by picking up a store-provided self-scanterminal or activating a self-scan application on a mobile device. Theshopping trip may end when the shopper checks out (e.g., pays forself-scanned items).

According to various implementations of the invention, system 100 mayinclude, for example, an audit computer 101, an audit module 102, anadministrative module 104, an audit database 106, a self-scan device108, a checkout terminal 110. Self-scan device 108 may include, forexample, a self-scan terminal provided by a store, a mobile device suchas a smartphone configured with a self-scan application, or othergenerally portable device that allows a user to self-scan items duringthe shopping trip.

In some implementations, audit module 102 may receive an audit parameterand compare the audit parameter to a predefined audit threshold. Theaudit parameter may include, for example, the duration of a shoppingtrip, a number of scans or voids (e.g., scanned then removed items)during the shopping trip, a number or value (e.g., price) of itemsscanned during the shopping trip, and/or a number of consecutiveshopping trips having a low number or value of scanned items. In someimplementations, the predefined audit threshold may be variabledepending on the type of item being scanned. For example, the thresholdfor voiding particular types of items such as seafood or deli items maybe less than for other types of items. In a particular example, voidingtwo seafood or deli items may cause the in-trip audit to occur whereasvoiding two canned goods may not cause the in-trip audit to occur.

The predefined audit threshold may include, for example, a maximumduration of the shopping trip, a maximum number of scans or voids duringthe shopping trip, a minimum number or value of items scanned during theshopping trip, and/or a maximum number of consecutive shopping tripsthat have a low number or value of scanned items. In someimplementations, the predefined audit threshold may be configured byeach retailer or location according to particular needs.

In some implementations, audit module 102 may determine whether anin-trip audit should occur based on comparing the audit parameter withthe predefined audit threshold. For example, if the duration of theshopping trip exceeds a maximum time allowed, audit module 102 maydetermine that the in-trip audit should occur. In some implementations,the audit parameter acts as a trigger such that when it exceeds or fallsbelow the predefined audit threshold, the in-trip audit is automaticallytriggered as a binary (True/False) decision rather than a probabilisticdecision.

In some implementations, audit module 102 may cause the scans of theshopping trip and/or audit history to be stored in audit database 104.As such, a shopper's self-scan and audit history may be stored and knownfor further reference. In some implementations, audit module 102 maydetermine whether the in-trip audit should occur further based on pastshopping trips and/or audit history of shoppers.

In some implementations, if audit module 102 does not trigger thein-trip audit based on the audit parameter, audit module 102 maydetermine a probability that the in-trip audit should still occur. Insome implementations, the probability may be based on a shopper's auditpoints, which may include a running total of audit points. Based on theshopper's prior self-scan and/or audit history, audit points may beadded or subtracted to the shopper's running total of audit points.

In some implementations, audit module 102 may determine whether thein-trip audit should occur based on a combination of the audit parameterand the probability that the in-trip audit should occur. For example,audit module 102 may use the probability as a weight for the auditparameter such that a high probability (based on audit points), combinedwith an audit parameter that alone would not otherwise trigger anin-store audit, causes the in-store audit.

Table 1 illustrates points that are added to a shopper's running totalof audit points based on an error percentage of prior audits of thatshopper. In the example illustrated by Table 1, lower error percentages(e.g., rates of errant scans) of prior audits result in an award ofhigher audit points such that a greater point total results in a lesserprobability of being audited in the future, as illustrated in Table 2.As would be appreciated, the values listed in Tables 1 and 2 areexemplary only and not intended to be limiting. Other values may be usedas appropriate. In some implementations, other factors may result in areward or deduction of audit points. For example, each shopping trip inwhich a shopper is not audited may result in a deduction of auditpoints, increasing the probability of being audited. In this manner, asthe number of shopping trips increases without being audited increases,the probability of being audited may increase.

TABLE 1 Error percentage Audit Points 0-5 +100  6-10 +50 11-15 +10 16-200 21-30 −30 31-40 −50  41-100 −100

TABLE 2 Points Probability Negative 100%  0-25  75% 26-50  50%  51-100 25% 101-200  10% 201+    0%

In some implementations, administrative module 104 may be used to changesettings or otherwise configure the behavior of audit module 102. Insome implementations, for example, a retailer may use administrativemodule 104 to adjust the predefined audit threshold values, number ofpoints with which a customer starts, number of points lost per trip, aminimum number of items exempt from audit, a cart total to be exemptfrom audit, a minimum number of items to be scanned during an audit,and/or whether a first self-scan should always be audited.

In some implementations, administrative module 104 may be used to flagan in-trip audit to occur irrespective of the audit parameter orprobability. In some implementations, the flag may include, for example,an always audit flag that indicates all shopping trips should beaudited, a flag next shopping trip that indicates a subsequent shoppingtrip is to be audited, and a particular shopping trip flag thatindicates a particular self-scan device or shopper should be audited. Insome implementations, the flag may be communicated directly and/or viaself-scan device 108 to checkout terminal 110. Upon detection of theflag, checkout terminal 110 may cause the audit to occur.

In some implementations, the in-trip audit may include a partial audit,where a subset of self-scanned items are manually scanned and checked bya cashier or other personnel. In other implementations, the audit mayinclude a full audit, where all self-scanned items are manually scannedand checked. In some implementations, the system determines the minimumnumber of items for the retailer employee to scan for the partial auditbased upon number of items and/or percentage size of the shopper'sbasket. In some implementations, a partial in-trip audit may trigger orotherwise cause a full in-trip audit depending on the results of thepartial in-trip audit. For example, if a high proportion of the itemschecked during the partial in-trip audit are errant, a full in-tripaudit may be triggered.

In some implementations, audit module 102 and/or administrative module104 may cause self-scan device 108 to indicate that a partial in-tripaudit, a full in-trip audit, or no audit should occur irrespective ofthe audit parameter or the probability. In these implementations,checkout terminal 110 may receive the indication and determine whetherthe in-trip audit should occur. For example, audit module 102 and/oradministrative module 104 may cause self-scan device 108 to display aspecial checkout barcode that encodes the indication. Checkout terminal110 may read the special checkout barcode and act accordingly.

In some implementations, the predefined audit threshold may be differentfor a partial in-trip audit than for a full in-trip audit. In otherwords, in some implementations, different criteria may be applied todetermine whether a partial in-trip audit or a full in-trip audit shouldoccur. Similarly, addition and/or subtraction of audit points may bedifferent for partial in-trip audits than for full in-trip audits.

In operation, a shopper may begin a shopping trip by initiating use ofself-scan device 108, which may include picking up a self-scan terminalprovided by a store, launching a self-scan application at the shopper'smobile device, or using another device that allows the shopper toself-scan items. The shopper may use self-scan device 108 to self-scan aplurality of items and void, or remove, a scanned item. In someimplementations, self-scan device 108 may store the scans into a memory(not illustrated in FIG. 1). In some implementations, self-scan device108 may periodically or continuously communicate the scans during theshopping trip to a remote device, which stores the scans for laterretrieval.

In some implementations, the shopper completes the shopping trip bychecking out the scanned items. For example, the shopper may presentself-scan device 108 to a checkout terminal 110. Self-scan device 108then communicates the scans to checkout terminal 110. In someimplementations, self-scan device 108 presents and checkout terminal 110reads a barcode that encodes an identifier that is associated with thescans. Checkout terminal 110 then looks up the scans based on theidentifier. In other implementations, checkout terminal 110 reads thescans from self-scan device 108.

In some implementations, during the shopping trip, audit module 102 maymonitor audit parameters such as a number of scanned and/or voideditems, time between scans, and/or other audit parameters. In some ofthese implementations, prior to checkout, audit module 102 may determinewhether an in-trip audit should occur. In other words, by the timecheckout occurs, the in-trip audit may already be determined such thatcheckout terminal 110 is informed that the in-trip audit should occur.In other implementations, during checkout, audit module 102 determineswhether the in-trip audit should occur.

In some implementations, audit module 102 and/or administrative module106 may be implemented as hardware such as an audit computer 101 thatincludes a processor (not illustrated in FIG. 1) configured to performfunctions described herein with respect to the audit module. In someimplementations, audit module 102 may be implemented as part of auditcomputer 101, self-scan device 108 and/or checkout terminal 110 suchthat some of all of these devices may be configured to perform at leastsome of the functions of audit module 102 described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a process 200 for initiating anin-trip audit for a shopping trip, in accordance with variousembodiments of the present invention. Although some of the operations ofprocess 200 may be discussed below with respect to the components ofsystem 100 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, it should beappreciated that this is for illustrative purposes only, and thatprocess 200 may be implemented with alternative components and/orsystems without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further,the particular arrangement of the operations illustrated in FIG. 2,other drawing figures and described hereafter is not intended to belimiting. In some implementations, various ones of the operations couldbe performed in an order other than the one set forth, various ones ofthe operations may be combined with others and/or be omitted altogether,and/or various additional operations may be added without departing fromthe scope of the disclosure, as should be appreciated.

In some implementations of the invention, in an operation 202, process200 may include receiving one or more audit parameters during a shoppingtrip. In some implementations, the one or more audit parameters mayinclude information that indicates the duration of the shopping trip.For example, the information may include a start time when self-scandevice 102 was initialized and an end time when checkout occurs and/ormay simply include a value for a timer. In some implementations, the oneor more audit parameters may include a number and/or a total value of aplurality of scans that occurred during the shopping trip. In someimplementations, the one or more audit parameters may include a lengthof time between two scans. In some implementations, the one or moreaudit parameters may include a number of voids during the shopping trip.

In some implementations of the invention, in an operation 204, process200 may include calculating an audit score based on the one or moreaudit parameters. In some implementations, calculating the audit scoremay include determining the duration of the shopping trip based on thestart and end times or determining another duration indicator. In someimplementations, calculating an audit score may include determining abasket size (indicative of the scanned items) based on a number ofscanned items and/or value of the scanned items. For example, theshopper may have scanned five items having a total value of two dollars.

In some implementations of the invention, in an operation 206, process200 may include comparing the audit score to a predefined auditthreshold. In some implementations, the predefined audit threshold maybe set by the retailer to indicate when an in-trip audit should betriggered. For example, the predefined audit threshold may include aminimum basket size-to-duration ratio below which an in-trip audit istriggered.

The foregoing audit parameters are exemplary only and not intended to belimiting. In some implementations, various audit parameters may becombined with one another. In the foregoing example, the basket size maybe combined with duration of the shopping trip such that the audit scoreis based on a ratio between the basket size and the duration. Forinstance, a shopper who scanned five items having a total value of twodollars during a two hour shopping trip may have an audit score (ratioof basket size to duration) that falls below a minimum threshold ratio.

In some implementations of the invention, in an operation 208, process200 may include determining whether the audit score exceeds (where thethreshold is a maximum) or is below (where the threshold is a minimum)the predefined audit threshold.

In operation 208, if the audit score exceeds or is below the predefinedaudit threshold, process 200 may proceed to an operation 210, which mayinclude determining that the in-trip audit should occur.

In operation 208, if the audit score does not exceed or is not below thepredefined audit threshold, process 200 may proceed to an operation 212,which may include determining that the in-trip audit should not occur.

In some implementations, after or in combination with operations 210and/or 212, process 200 may further determine a probability that theshopper should be audited. In some implementations, process 200 maydetermine the probability based on parameters described in Tables 1 and2. In some implementations, for example, process 200 may includedetermining a number of audit points associated with the shopper. Thetotal number of audit points may be incremented or decremented based onthe shopper. In some implementations, a greater number of audit pointsmay be associated with a reduced probability of being audited (althoughthe opposite could be true). For example, process 200 may includedecrementing the number of audit points for a shopper who has not beenaudited such that a shopper who has not been audited has an increasedprobability of being audited in the future. The total number of pointsmay also be incremented or decremented based on prior audit results. Forexample, having few or no errors in a prior audit may result in an awardof audit points while having many errors may result in a deduction ofaudit points. The total number of points may be decremented eachshopping trip to insure all shoppers are audited at least periodically.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface 300 forassigning audit points, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface 400 forcustomizing settings, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a user interface 500 forcustomizing settings based on hours of operation, in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention.

The word “exemplary” is used in this description to mean “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Whenthe claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or moreitems, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the appended claims should notbe construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification, unless the Detailed Description sectionexplicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of theinvention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

Those of skill in the art would understand that any of the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, and algorithmsteps described in connection with the aspects disclosed here may beimplemented as electronic hardware (for example, a digitalimplementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of said two,which may be designed using source coding or some other technique),various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions(which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as “software”),firmware, or combinations of the above. To clearly illustrate thisinterchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, and steps have been described abovegenerally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Thosewho are skilled in the art may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present disclosure.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium can include anon-transitory storage media or communication media including any mediumthat facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place toanother. A non-transitory storage media may be any available media thatcan be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation,such non-transitory storage media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of instructions or data structures andthat can be accessed by a computer.

It should be appreciated that a computer readable medium may beimplemented in any suitable computer-program product.

For a hardware implementation, embodiments can be implemented withprocessors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, electronicdevices, other electronic units designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein, or a combination thereof. Memory can be implementedwithin the processor or external to the processor. As used herein theterm “memory” refers to any type of long term, short term, volatile,nonvolatile, or other storage devices and is not to be limited to anyparticular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media uponwhich memory is stored. For a firmware and/or software implementation,embodiments can be implemented with modules such as procedures,functions, and so on, that perform the functions described herein. Anymachine readable medium tangibly embodying instructions can be used inimplementing the embodiments described herein.

Other implementations, uses and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thespecification should be considered exemplary only, and the scope of theinvention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method of providing anin-trip audit in a self-checkout system, comprising: receiving, by acomputer, an indication that a customer has initiated a shopping trip;receiving, by the computer, an indication during the shopping trip thata self-scanning device associated with the customer has received atleast two scans; identifying, by the computer, audit parameters based onthe received at least two scans from the self-scanning device, the auditparameters comprising a determined length of time between the at leasttwo scans during the shopping trip, and a basket size comprising anumber of items associated with the at least two scans and a value ofthe items associated with the at least two scans; calculating, by thecomputer and based on the audit parameters, an audit score for theshopping trip of the customer indicative of whether an in-trip auditshould occur; comparing, by the computer, the audit score to apredefined audit threshold; determining, by the computer, afterreceiving the audit parameters and during or prior to checkout by thecustomer, whether the in-trip audit should occur based on thecomparison, prior audit history of previous shopping trips of thecustomer stored in an audit database, and a probability value for thein-trip audit occurring that is based on a number of audit pointsassociated with the customer, wherein the number of audit points isbased on the audit parameters and adjusted to increase or decrease theprobability value based on the audit parameters; instructing, by thecomputer, the self-scanning device to provide, when a checkout isinitiated for the customer indicating a completion of the shopping trip,an encoded identifier in a barcode comprising both an indication ofwhether the in-trip audit should occur based on the probability, and anidentification of the items associated with the at least two scans; andstoring, in the audit database, by the computer, the indication ofwhether the in-trip audit should occur as a reference in determiningwhether a subsequent in-trip audit should occur.